Tonight: 2 games with top of the table clash
Photo: William Cherry
Friday night brings two Elite League games - one involving sides at the top of the table, and the other important to the mid-table battle.
1900 Belfast Giants vs. Sheffield Steelers
League leaders Sheffield head over to Belfast to face the third-placed Giants in a game that will have a big impact on the title race.
The Steelers lead the league by five points and have a seven-point lead over the Giants. A win would put the Steelers nine clear of the Giants with 20 or so games to play, while if Belfast could pick up a regulation victory they'd cut the gap down to five points behind the Steelers with two games in hand.
The sides played a double-header in Belfast before Christmas which they split with a win each; Sheffield won the only meeting of the teams across the water - both Steelers' victories involved shutting the Giants out.
"It's not going to be easy. We've seen both sides of Sheffield in our games against them, but it doesn't matter who we're playing in this league we need to take care of our own play. That's all we're asking the guys for, to be in the fight every night." - Adam Keefe (Head Coach, Belfast Giants)
"When I watch Belfast play I like their style and how physical they are. They had a pretty big changeover during the summer but are only a few points behind us with two games in hand so we can't sleep on that too much. It'll be another important game." - Aaron Fox (Head Coach, Sheffield Steelers)
1930 Glasgow Clan vs. Coventry Blaze
The last time Coventry went into Glasgow they won 8-6, and then followed that up with a 9-2 win against the Clan at home some three weeks later.
Glasgow find themselves seventh some four points behind the Blaze but with a game in hand. Two wins over Fife followed Christmas defeats to Belfast, but those wins did end.
Coventry's good recent form has seen them climb up to fifth, seven points off going any higher - however, with Nottingham not playing in the league this weekend the Blaze have the chance to cut that gap down.
